Role Models: Yumiko Higuchi

To say I'm obsessed would be an understatement. I can not get over how insanely gorgeous the embroidery work of Yumiko Higuchi is! It is sweet and traditional, as all embroidery is, but with an edge that feels totally and completely current. Don't you think? Stunning patterns... ...and the cutest bows I've ever seen. Tell me please, what woman on your holiday list wouldn't love one of these clutches or bows (for the younger crowd)?

When I image the time, love and sheer passion that goes into creating each of these pieces, my heart soars.

Jenny

Living Room | Chandelier

How impressive are the details of Oly Studio's beachy Jenny chandelier? I've had a long time love affair with this light fixture, which has only intensified since I had it installed in our master bedroom. It.is.gorgeous.

Wanting to know more about its beauty, I checked in with Oly and found out that the shells are all natural Capiz from the shores of Indonesia. Each piece of shell has 10-12 tiny hand-drilled holes which were strung together by hand to create perfect rows of glimmery iridescence that make up the majority of this fixture.

The effect of the light bouncing off of the shells when it's illuminated is simply stunning, not to mention the fantastic shadows that it casts on the ceiling. Jenny proves, once again, it's all about the details.

Hue: Smoke Grey

Fabric: Muriel Brandolini's Smoke Grey 3 | Art | Pillow | Rug | Mirror

Palette No. 3

For the specific fabrics used in Palette No. 3, please subscribe to CLOTH & KIND’s emails. Details for each textile are provided exclusively to my email buddies. Happy Friday!

Mally Skok

 what is your idea of perfect design happiness? MY HAPPINESS AS A DESIGNER ALWAYS HINGES ON THE HAPPINESS OF MY CLIENTS.

NOTHING PLEASES ME MORE THAN HAVING THEM EMBRACE MY IDEAS, AND THEN LOVING OUR PLAN WHEN IT COMES TO FRUITION. MY CLIENTS JOY IS MY JOY. THIS IS ALSO TRUE WHEN I HEAR FROM A CUSTOMER THAT BOUGHT MY FABRIC FOR A PROJECT AND THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THE RESULT. SUCH AN HONOR FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE MY FABRIC ABOVE ALL THE WONDERFUL CHOICES THAT THERE ARE OUT THERE IN THE DESIGN WORLD.

what is your greatest fear in design? OH THERE IS ACTUALLY SO MUCH THAT CAN GO WRONG IN A PROJECT, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE  UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL THAT GOES INTO PUTTING TOGETHER A SCHEME FOR A ROOM.

I AM A HUGE 'DOUBLE CHECKER', ALWAYS GET A CUTTING OF MY FABRIC CHOICE BEFORE I GIVE THE GO AHEAD TO MY WORKROOMS. MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT A PIECE WILL COME OFF THE DELIVERY TRUCK AND IT WILL BE WRONG. WRONG COLOUR, WRONG SHAPE.

I HATE DISAPPOINTING MY CLIENTS - BUT WITH TIME AND PATIENCE, IF THERE IS A MISHAP, IT WILL ALWAYS BE FIXED!

which historical design figure do you most identify with? I JUST LOVE THE DESIGN OF THE LATE MARK HAMPTON. HE DESIGNED FOR MANY HIGH-END CLIENTS AND FRIENDS, BUT HIS SCHEMES WERE NEVER PRETENTIOUS. ALTHOUGH HIS DESIGNS WERE MOSTLY TRADITIONAL, THERE WAS LITTLE FUSSINESS, HE WAS BRAVE WITH COLOUR, LOVED PAINTED WOOD (SO DO I) AND HIS ROOMS ALWAYS LOOKED COMFORTABLE AND SO INVITING.

I HAVE A BOOK OF HIS WATERCOLOUR POSTCARDS THAT HE WOULD SEND TO HIS CLIENTS AND FRIENDS AS THANK YOU NOTES - HIS WIFE COLLECTED THEM INTO A CHARMING LITTLE BOOK -  IT IS A TREASURED POSSESSION. HIS STYLE, TALENT, HUMOR AND INTELLIGENCE CAME THROUGH IN EVERY LITTLE POSTCARD.

which living designer do you most admire? IT'S HARD TO SAY ONE PERSON, I REALLY ADMIRE ALL THE DESIGNERS THAT HAVE MANAGED TO GET TO THE TOP OF THEIR GAME. IT'S A VERY BIG FIELD AND THERE ARE SOME SUPER TALENTS OUT THERE.

BEING A FABRIC DESIGNER TOO, I TEND TO HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE DESIGNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE DRIVE AND AMBITION TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND LAUNCH FABRIC LINES OF THEIR OWN. IT'S NOT AN EASY UNDERTAKING.

I THINK MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD IS A FUN DESIGNER, HE ALSO HAS A LOVELY LINE OF FABRICS. I USE THEM A LOT IN MY PROJECTS AND I HAVE MET HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES - HE IS A CHARMING MAN. THE SAME GOES FOR MICHAEL SMITH, HIS FABRICS ARE SO PERFECT FOR THE PROJECTS THAT HE DOES SO WELL. I LIKE TO USE HIS FABRICS FOR MY MORE GROWN UP ROOMS. THEN THERE'S PETER DUNHAM, LOVE HIS FABRICS AND HIS UNFUSSY STYLE. HE IS ALSO SUCH A NICE PERSON.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? MY CHILDREN SAY I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DETECTIVE! THEY CALL ME A 'NOTICER' - IT'S A BIT OF AN AFFLICTION! I AM FASCINATED BY HOW HUMAN BEINGS WORK, I ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE REAL STORY IS, NOT THE FACADE THAT PEOPLE PUT UP FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. I NOTICE EVERYTHING, IF SOMETHING HAS BEEN MOVED IN MY HOUSE, OR IF ONE OF MY CLIENTS IS NOT LOOKING HAPPY, OR WHAT GETS LEFT ON EACH PERSONS PLATE AT THE END OF THE MEAL - IT DRIVES MY HUSBAND A LITTLE CRAZY!

what is your greatest design extravagance? TRAVEL. I BELONG TO SUCH A SCATTERED FAMILY. TWO OF MY CHILDREN LIVE IN LONDON, MY MUM AND SIBLINGS ARE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND MY YOUNGEST IS ABOUT TO DO A CO-OP SEMESTER IN LA. YIKES, I NEED TO KEEP COLLECTING THOSE AIR MILES!

when and where were you happiest with your design? I LOVE GOING TO THE STUDIO IN GREAT BARRINGTON AND WORKING ON A NEW DESIGN WITH PETER FASANO.

IT'S HIS STUDIO THAT PRINTS UP MY FABRICS AND SARAH STRANGLE IS THE AMAZING GRAPHIC DESIGNER THAT TAKES MY LITTLE WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS AND TURNS THEM INTO REAL FABRIC.

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? INTERIOR DESIGN IS A LOVELY JOB BUT IT IS NOT BRAIN SURGERY. THERE ARE SO MANY WOMEN IN THE WORLD THAT ARE DOING TRULY AMAZING JOBS, I AM JUST HAPPY TO BE BUSY AND MAKING PEOPLE'S LIVES A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE AND THEIR HOUSES MORE FUN TO LIVE IN.

I DO LIKE GOING DOWN TO MY FABRIC STOREROOM IN THE BASEMENT, AND SOMETIMES IT HITS ME THAT ALL THOSE PATTERNS CAME OUT OF MY HEAD AND I STILL REALLY LIKE THEM. I SUPPOSE THAT'S A BIT OF AN ACHIEVEMENT!

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? WHEN I WENT TO INDIA WITH MY SISTER I FELT SO AT HOME THERE. ALTHOUGH INDIA IS REALLY HECTIC, AND THE POVERTY CAN BE A BIT DISTURBING, I JUST FELT A SENSE OF CALM AND HAPPINESS WHEN I WAS THERE.

I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AS A HIGHBORN MATRIARCH LIVING IN AN AMAZING HOUSE SURROUNDED BY WONDERFUL FURNITURE AND FABRICS AND HUNDREDS OF GRAND CHILDREN!

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? I HATE THE MONEY SIDE OF THE BUSINESS. I WOULD HAPPILY GIVE IT ALL TO MY CLIENTS IF I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE BILLS TO PAY. I SHOULD BE MORE BUSINESSLIKE IN MY EVERYDAY DEALINGS, I JUST FEEL IT TAKES THE FUN OUT OF THE JOB.

what is your most treasured design related possession? MY MOST TREASURED THINGS ARE THE GIFTS THAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAVE GIVEN ME. I LIKE TO KEEP THEM IN THE ROOMS I LIVE IN THE MOST, ESPECIALLY THE THINGS MY SISTER HAS GIVEN ME. THEY ARE ALL ON MY DRESSING TABLE - AN ANTIQUE GLASS GOBLET, A TINY DECANTER WITH ITS ORIGINAL STOPPER. I LIKE TO SEE THEM OFTEN BECAUSE SHE LIVES A LONG WAY AWAY IN CAPE TOWN AND I MISS OUR TIMES TOGETHER VERY MUCH.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? I THINK IT MUST BE THE SAME FOR MOST DESIGNERS, WHEN YOU ARE NEARLY THERE AND THEN YOUR CLIENT GETS WOBBLED BY THE MOTHER IN LAW, OR THE BEST FRIEND, OR THE NASTY NEIGHBOR. IT IS SO BORING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND MAKE YOUR CASE ALL OVER AGAIN.

what curse word do you most frequently use? DAMN!

what is your favorite design related word? VIBE, MESH, TALK TO.

what is your least favorite design related word? I AM SO BORED TO DEATH WITH THE TERM 'MIXING THE OLD WITH THE NEW'.

what turns you on in design? SEEING FRESH, NEW IDEAS FROM YOUNG DESIGNERS.

what turns you off in design? PRETENTIOUS DESIGN MEANT TO MAKE THE NEIGHBOURS JEALOUS.

what is your motto in design? HAVE FUN WITH IT, ENJOY THE PROCESS, THESE ARE GOOD PROBLEMS TO HAVE!

IMAGE CREDITS | Mally's Headshot | Samode Fabric | Zig Zag Fabric | Mark Hampton Book | Martyn Lawrence Bullard Headshot | Fez Border Fabric | Nichola Fabric | Rohet Solid Fabric | Mally & Peter Fasano in the Studio, Mally with Friends in India Photos Provided by Mally Skok

PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by my design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. This interview technique has been used by many journalists throughout the years but my column was primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of Vanity Fair(my alma mater). The twist here on CLOTH & KIND is that I've repurposed each question to relate to interior design. To read all of my Proust on Design interviews, please click here. Enjoy!

Hue: Cork

Fabric | Art | Pillow | Living Room | Bangles

Hue: Guinness

Fabric | Wallpaper | Pillow | Bedroom | Sculpture Neisha Crosland's Zebra print in Guinness is sublime. Dark & rich, just like its namesake, it has inspired this earthy brown mood board. Brown tends to a color that many people want to avoid in interiors but I never quite understood that. It is inherently neutral and yet tends to have much more dimension than black. I'll always say "cheers" to shades of brown, especially when they are named after a beer. What about you?

Fab Five: Daybeds

1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 

The Bed at Hotel San Jose

Austin, TX is such a happening town. I had the pleasure of staying at the Hotel San Jose last night. It's in the midst of the uber-hip SoCo (South Congress) district, and in and of itself this hotel is brimming with coolness. It has a kind of secret-garden-meets-bo-ho-chic vibe. There's a laid back outdoor patio which was the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine at 5 o'clock. It even has old school bikes available to take out for a cruise. But the best part for me, hands down, was the bed. It was made up with super crisp white sheets and a block printed duvet cover that was just gorgeous in its simplicity. And it was oh-so-comfortable. I just love a hotel with a good bed. So, do tell - where is your favorite hotel bed?

Design Duel

I was so honored to be asked to participate in today's Design Duel over at Hello, Splendor, the blog that belongs to Beth & Carolina of the esteemed Pulp Design Studios. Hilary Walker, who you know from yesterday's Show & Tell, freelances over at Pulp and put the post together. I think it turned out just beautifully, so thank you to Beth, Carolina & Hilary! Ironically, Mimi Thorisson, from the delicious food blog Manager, and I chose very similar items - we must be kindred spirits. I adore her selections and would be honored to sit at her table any day of the week... especially if she's cooking. When I was searching for the items that I wanted to include in the Design Duel post, I found so many amazing table linens and napkin rings that I was inspired to put this together to share a few more ideas for your holiday tables. And, might I add that Barneys New York was the source for all of these beautiful pieces... I'm really loving their home selections lately.

ONE napkin + ring | TWO napkin + ring | THREE napkin + ring | FOUR napkin + ring | FIVE napkin + ring

So which pair do you like best? I can't decide myself. But come to think of it, how beautiful would a table be that was set with one of each of these? Paired with simple white plates to unify everything... Hmmmm.

P.S. Be sure to check out the Pinterest board I created for the Design Duel post.